CITY OF SAN FERNANDO — As a debt of gratitude to Kapampangan Overseas Filipino Workers deployed across the globe, a non-government organization and the provincial government of Pampanga will construct a 181-bed hospital in Barangay Sindalan here that will cater to the medical needs of OFW families in the province and nearby areas in Central Luzon.
The project, according to Board Member Rosve Henson, will be constructed on a 2-hectare lot donated by Bloomberry Foundation of business tycoon Enrique Razon, who pledged to donate P500 million for the OFW Hospital.
Henson posted in his social media page that the 2-hectare property is worth P600 million.
He said the architectural design of the hospital project was presented to the provincial government during a meeting at the Red Lantern Restaurant at the Solaire Hotel and Casino in Manila.
Present during the event were DOH officials led by Franciso Duque III and Usec. Leonita Gorgolon, Governor Dennis Pineda and his mother Vice Govenor Lilia, department heads and some Provincial Board Members led by Henson and Bloomberry Foundation president Donato Almeda.
The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) pledged to contribute P200 million for the procurement of medical and laboratory equipment.
“The hospital project, once completed, will be managed by the Department of Health in cooperation with the Department of Labor and Employment – Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (DOLE-OWWA), and will serve OFW families’ medical needs,” stated Henson in his post dated July 5. Dubbed as the unsung modern day heroes of the country’s economy, Henson said it is with utmost concern for OFW families to be served as after all, they have contributed a lot to the country.
Last year, former Pampanga Governor Lilia Pineda vowed to provide venues, equipment and other facilities for the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)-led Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) Welfare Assistance Program Processing Centers in the province.Pineda and Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III led the launching of the processing centers, the first welfare assistance program processing centers to be established in the country that aim to fast-track services for OFWs.
“We are pleased to inform our OFWs residing in Pampanga that they can now avail our various OFW-related services within l reach as we will be initially establishing six centers in six local government units (LGUs) in the province,” Bello said during the event.
A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) was inked between the Pampanga Provincial Government, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), and covered LGUs for the creation of these centers.
Under the MOA, the initial six centers will be established in Mabalacat City, and municipalities of Sta. Rita, Lubao, Macabebe, and San Luis.
“We will be providing the needed and appropriate staff to assist in the operation of these Centers.
We will also be providing wards at the Jose B. Lingad Hospital and all of the Provincial Capitol’s hospitals exclusively for OFWs and their families,” Pineda said.